Smithsburg Pride Days about 'unity in community'

SMITHSBURG, Md. — The 19th annual Smithsburg Pride Days was about “trying to put the unity in community,” event chairperson Tonya Meadows said.

“It’s about the town. It’s to get the people together to show off our town pride. It started because the pride was the name of an apple that was grown here locally,” Meadows said.

Saturday was the second day of the three-day event, and included an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the fire hall, followed by a parade and a day of more than 60 craft and food vendors at Veterans Park.

Melanie Horton strolled past the craft vendors, stopping to purchase some seasonings at one of the booths. The newcomer to Smithsburg recently moved to Washington County from New Jersey.

“Its good that everybody knows everybody. It’s a small town and we really enjoy it here,” said Horton, who attended with her 16-month-old daughter, Juliet, and her mother-in-law.

The parade traveled about a mile down Water Street, ending at Veterans Park. Firetrucks honked their horns, bands entertained the crowd and people on floats tossed candy to eager children waiting along the parade route.

Longtime resident Robert Smith, who lives at 51 W. Water St., had one of the best seats in the house for the parade, which he said he wishes was longer.

“It’s a nice place to live. All my family was brought up here,” he said. “It’s a quiet little town.”